So I just started the Dexcom system yesterday and am loving it. It's very handy so far, and works great. But I have a question - will my sensors be ok if left out in the car overnight? It got down to 20 last night and I can't believe I forgot them out there. Anybody else done this??
They probably didn't freeze and I think they should be okay. The heat is more of a concern. We keep the sensors in the fridge.
I cannot answer your question about the cold, but I am currently using a sensor that expired in late 2010 and, it has been going strong for 15 days. The accuracy is not as good after the first 10 days, but the trends are very useful.
Why do you keep your in the fridge? BTW, I am now 10 days past an Error 1 message and going strong. I was able to restart my sensor and I started up working well.
We atarted the original dex 7 just before the children with diabetes conference. It wasn't working that great and we spoke to others who were using the dexcom. They said the Orlando heat in July was above the recommended storage temp and to keep them in the fridge. We've done so ever since. I think Dexcom even suggests it.
I know someone who stores sensors in the fridge, but not near the back where it is colder. Things that touch the back of our fridge can become partially frozen. In the compartments in the fridge door is a good place.
I will admit that I have not done this, I am just saying what a friend told me. I stopped using my Dex in October, 2010. I had a sensor that expired late that year. Now i am using Dex again, and that old sensor worked just fine, for two weeks. It was kept in a cabinet in my room all that time. I do not pay any attention to the expirations dates on the sensors.
I ended up calling Dexcom on Monday and they said the sensors would have to be frozen for over a week to do any damage. Therefore, they are fine to use. :)